Hockey headlines for February 23, 2026

Monday, February 23, 2026

U.S. defeats Canada for its first gold in Olympic men’s hockey since ‘Miracle on Ice’ (Los Angeles Times)
Look what toothless Jack Hughes sacrificed to win Gold Medal for Team USA (NJ.com)
‘I felt I was doing everything right’: Hellebuyck leads USA to gold (Winnipeg Free Press)
Sidney Crosby says he was 'pretty close' to playing Olympic gold medal game vs. U.S. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Team USA honors the late Johnny Gaudreau after winning Olympic gold in Milan (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Crosby ponders future in Olympic aftermath, while Matthews just wants to ‘live in the moment’ (Globe & Mail)
Johnny Gaudreau’s dream was to be an Olympian. His family lived it for him, in a moment fit for a ‘movie’ (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau after winning gold medal: ‘He should be with us’ (NJ.com)
Rangers’ Mike Sullivan capitalizes on once-uncertain Olympic chance with legacy-cementing win (New York Post)
USA’s Connor Hellebuyck shows he’s ‘best in the world’ with Olympic gold-medal heroics for the ages (New York Post)
For Macklin Celebrini, things are about to change after historic Olympic effort (San Jose Mercury News)
Brock Nelson adds third generation to family’s Olympic gold collection — with ‘Miracle’ uncle in crowd (New York Post)
Golden Knights stars Eichel, Hanifin win gold for Team USA (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Bruins star Charlie McAvoy delivers unsung heroics in gold medal win (Boston Herald)
Jake Oettinger among 6 Dallas Stars to medal at 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy (Dallas Morning News)
2026 Winter Olympics hockey a win for USA and NHL — and for the Florida Panthers (Miami Herald)
'Most meaningful hockey': Larkin, Hellebuyck are Olympic Hockeytown heroes (Detroit News)
Rangers stars J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck prove Bill Guerin right at Olympics: ‘Pretty f–king proud’ (New York Post)
Kraken’s Matty Beniers gets to gloat after Team USA’s golden Sunday (Seattle Times)
Dan Vladař relishes in his Olympic experience; Flyers’ Americans celebrate Team USA’s historic gold (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Maple Leafs players thrilled for captain Auston Matthews' Olympic gold with U.S. (Toronto Sun)
Avalanche players marvel at Olympic tournament, both up close and from afar: ‘It was unreal’ (Denver Post)
The Sabres watch a golden Olympic moment: ‘It means the world to everybody that’s represented the US’ (Buffalo News)
‘Little bit of chirping’: Canadian, American Capitals delay practice to bask in gold-medal match (Washington Times)
Senators fans, players shake off heartbreaking Canadian Olympic loss with skills competition (Ottawa Sun)
Wild anticipate momentum with three gold medalists coming back (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Jonathan Lekkerimaki needs season-ending shoulder surgery: report (Vancouver Province)
Blackhawks' Colton Dach hoping to earn more ice time after rejuvenating break (Chicago Sun-Times)
N.J. Gov. Mikie Sherrill congratulates Team USA on gold, thanks to ‘New Jersey’s own Jack Hughes’ (NJ.com)
President Donald Trump congratulates Team USA hockey for gold medal win (Detroit Free Press)